Google Play has announced a significant change to its policies to now allow developers to incorporate digital assets such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) into their apps and games on the platform.

The Binance-operated BNB Beacon Chain mainnet is preparing to introduce a feature that could momentarily “halt” the production of new blocks under certain conditions, through an update that’s set to go live at block height 328,088,888, which is expected by July 19.

Coinbase’s cryptocurrency wallet, Coinbase Wallet, has launched a new feature enabling users to send instant messages between them using their Ethereum identities by leveraging the Extensible Message Transport Protocol (XMTP), a messaging system that uses blockchain addresses for communication.

Top stories in the Crypto Roundup today:

• Google Play Opens the Door for NFTs in Apps and Games
• Binance’s BNB Beacon Chain to Get Block Halt Mechanism in New Update
• Coinbase Wallet Launches Instant Messaging Feature
• Crypto Equities Surge as Bitcoin Spot ETFs Loom

Google Play Opens the Door for NFTs in Apps and Games

Google Play has announced a significant change to its policies to now allow developers to incorporate digital assets such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) into their apps and games on the platform.

The policy stipulates that companies opting to enable the purchasing, selling, or earning of tokenized assets must clearly specify the presence of blockchain-based elements in their apps via the Play Console.

Google Play’s Group Product Manager Joseph Mills wrote in a blog post that the updated policy could empower partners to reimagine “traditional games with user-owned content to boosting user loyalty through unique NFT rewards.”

One of the collaborators on the novel policy is Reddit, which saw enormous success with its Avatar NFTs. Redditor’s senior engineering manager Matt Williamson was quoted in the past saying the guidelines are “aimed at creating a level playing field that promotes user trust, and responsible usage of blockchain technology.”

In the post, Mills pointed out that while tokenized assets are designed to create more engaging, immersive experiences, developers must not endorse or sensationalize any prospective earnings from gaming or trading activities as an additional user safeguard.

Historically, Google's approach to blockchain-based apps was perceived as nebulous, with the tech giant at one point removing crypto mining apps. The company has since been seemingly changing its stance toward Web3, allowing games like Axie Infinity to be listed on select markets.

Binance’s BNB Beacon Chain to Get Block Halt Mechanism in New Update

The Binance-operated BNB Beacon Chain mainnet is preparing to introduce a feature that could momentarily “halt” the production of new blocks under certain conditions, through an update that’s set to go live at block height 328,088,888, which is expected by July 19.

One of the most significant elements of this upgrade is the Binance Evolution Proposal BEP-255, aiming to institute "on-chain asset reconciliation." Binance asserts this measure could help limit the effects of potential cross-chain bridge exploits, such as the notable Binance Smart Chain breach on October 7, 2022.

In a GitHub post concerning BEP-255, Binance acknowledged improvements to cross-chain security, but stressed the necessity for asset protection on the BNB Beacon Chain itself, particularly in the aftermath of bridge exploitations.

The exchange explained that under the BEP it will track user balance changes in each block and conduct reconciliations to detect anomalies. If reconciliation errors emerge, the blockchain “will panic," suspending the production of new blocks.

The “drastic action,” which will impact “downstream services such as bridges, deposits, and withdrawals on exchanges, is necessary to protect the chain and its users, Binance said. To bring the blockchain back online, a hard fork and addressing the reconciliation error will be required.

Alongside this innovation, the update is slated to bring other changes, including a bug fix to prevent “Rogue Key Attacks,” a security flaw where an attacker generates a valid aggregate signature for a transaction rather than the actual owner of the private keys.

Coinbase Wallet Launches Instant Messaging Feature

Coinbase’s cryptocurrency wallet, Coinbase Wallet, has launched a new feature enabling users to send instant messages between them using their Ethereum identities by leveraging the Extensible Message Transport Protocol (XMTP), a messaging system that uses blockchain addresses for communication.

According to Coinbase, a select group of wallet users are now able to exchange messages via cb.id, .eth, or the usernames of decentralized social media network Lens. The new feature is initially available to all users who scan a QR code included in the blog post or who have Lens profiles. Still, the company plans to extend its accessibility to all users in the future.

To ensure privacy, messages are end-to-end encrypted, and users can block any addresses they wish not to receive messages from.

Coinbase cites a primary motivation behind the release of this feature is to mitigate fraud within the cryptocurrency community, as the ability to directly message the owner of a wallet address means users no longer need to depend on separate messaging platforms where verifying the recipient's Web3 identity.

Coinbase further argues that utilizing XMTP for messaging reduces centralization, as in the event that Coinbase discontinues its wallet or ceases to exist as a company, users can retain their XMTP chat histories and access them using other XMTP-compatible apps like Lenster or OrbApp.

XMTP documentation reveals that the messaging protocol operates on a network fully owned by its developer, XMTP Labs. The documents, however, highlight that the company is "working toward a phased decentralization of the network."

Crypto Equities Surge as Bitcoin Spot ETFs Loom

Cryptocurrency-related equities have been experiencing a robust uptick following the recent announcements of Bitcoin Spot ETFs by industry giants like BlackRock, CBOE, and Valkyrie.

Since June, the performance of Bitcoin has been trailing behind that of equities such as Coinbase (COIN), mining shares like Marathon Digital Holdings (MARA), Riot Blockchain (RIOT), Hut 8 Mining Corp (HUT), and MicroStrategy (MSTR) led by Michael Saylor.

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